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Anti-Fascism: A History of Resistance and Resilience

by Zuzana
written by Zuzana

Anti-Fascism: A History of Resistance to Tyranny

What is Anti-Fascism?

Anti-fascism is a movement that opposes fascism, a political ideology that glorifies the state and nation and suppresses individual freedoms. Fascism often promotes racism, xenophobia, and authoritarianism. Anti-fascists believe that all people are equal and deserve to live in a society free from oppression.

The Roots of Anti-Fascism

The roots of anti-fascism can be traced back to the early 20th century, when fascism began to rise in Italy and Germany. In 1921, the Arditi del Popolo, an Italian anti-fascist group, was founded to fight against the growing threat of fascism.

Anti-Fascism in Action

Throughout history, anti-fascists have fought against fascism in various ways, including:

  • Direct action: Anti-fascists have often used direct action, such as protests, marches, and boycotts, to oppose fascist regimes and policies.
  • Armed resistance: In some cases, anti-fascists have resorted to armed resistance to fight against fascist governments. For example, during the Spanish Civil War, anti-fascist forces fought against the fascist forces of General Franco.
  • Community organizing: Anti-fascists have also worked to build community and organize against fascism. This includes organizing educational campaigns, providing support to victims of fascism, and working to create a more just and equitable society.

Anti-Fascism and the Fight Against Racism

Anti-fascism has always been closely linked to the fight against racism. Fascist regimes often promote racism and xenophobia, and anti-fascists believe that fighting fascism is essential to fighting racism.

Anti-Fascism in the 21st Century

Anti-fascism remains a relevant and important movement in the 21st century. Fascism is on the rise in many parts of the world, and anti-fascists are working to combat it.

The Challenges Facing Anti-Fascism

Anti-fascism faces a number of challenges in the 21st century, including:

  • The rise of the far right: The far right has been gaining ground in many countries, and this has led to an increase in fascist and white supremacist activity.
  • The spread of disinformation: Disinformation is a major challenge for anti-fascists, as it can be used to spread fascist propaganda and recruit new members.
  • The lack of unity: There is a lack of unity among anti-fascist groups, which can make it difficult to effectively combat fascism.

The Future of Anti-Fascism

Despite the challenges, anti-fascism remains a vital movement for fighting fascism and promoting human rights. Anti-fascists are working to build a more just and equitable society, and they are committed to fighting fascism in all its forms.

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Social Justice

Silent Sam Toppled: UNC’s Confederate Statue Controversy

by Zuzana
written by Zuzana

Confederate Statue Controversy at University of North Carolina

The Toppling of Silent Sam

On Monday night, a group of protestors marched on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus, protesting the controversial Confederate monument known as “Silent Sam.” The statue, dedicated to students who fought in the Civil War, had been a source of controversy for decades.

By the end of the evening, some protestors had succeeded in pulling the statue down. The toppling was preceded by a rally supporting Maya Little, a UNC doctoral student facing criminal charges for splashing Silent Sam with red ink and her own blood in April. Little addressed the crowd and called the statue “a memorial to white supremacy, and to slave owners. And to people who murdered my ancestors.”

The Symbolism of Silent Sam

Silent Sam was erected on the UNC campus in 1913 with support from the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The statue depicts a soldier holding a gun without ammunition, earning it the nickname “Silent Sam.” A panel on the side of the monument shows a woman representing the state urging a student to join the fight for the Confederacy.

At the statue’s dedication, industrialist and white supremacist Julian Carr proclaimed that “the whole Southland is sanctified by the precious blood of the student Confederate soldier.” Carr also bragged about whipping a black woman because she had insulted a white woman.

Silent Sam has long been a symbol of white supremacy and slavery. Calls to remove it intensified after the deadly white nationalist rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017.

The Debate Over Removal

University officials have acknowledged the divisive nature of Silent Sam and expressed support for its removal. However, they have been unable to take down the statue due to a 2015 state law stipulating that monuments owned by the state cannot be removed or altered without approval from a state historical commission.

The Toppling and Aftermath

After the statue was toppled, Chancellor Carol L. Folt issued a statement acknowledging its divisive history and expressing concern about the unlawful and dangerous actions of the protestors. The police are investigating the vandalism and assessing the damage.

Silent Sam lay on the ground for several hours before being carted away to an undisclosed location. The toppling has sparked a debate about the role of Confederate monuments in public spaces and the importance of addressing the legacy of slavery and white supremacy.

Long-Tail Keywords:

  • Confederate statue controversy at University of North Carolina
  • Maya Little’s protest and criminal charges
  • Silent Sam’s symbolism as a memorial to white supremacy
  • The role of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in erecting Silent Sam
  • Julian Carr’s racist proclamation at the statue’s dedication
  • The debate over removing Silent Sam following the Charlottesville rallies
  • The state law preventing the university from removing Silent Sam
  • Chancellor Carol L. Folt’s statement on the toppling of Silent Sam
  • The investigation into the vandalism and damage to Silent Sam
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Social Justice

The Kerner Report: 50 Years of Unfinished Business in the Fight for Racial Equality

by Zuzana
written by Zuzana

The Kerner Report: 50 Years Later

The Landmark Study on Racial Unrest

In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson established the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, known as the Kerner Commission, to investigate the causes of widespread racial unrest in the United States. The commission’s landmark report, the Kerner Report, identified white racism as the root cause of the riots that had erupted in poor African-American neighborhoods across the country.

Key Findings of the Kerner Report

The Kerner Report found that systemic racism permeated American society, from segregated schools and neighborhoods to housing discrimination, cycles of poverty, and lack of employment opportunities. The report concluded that white institutions had created and maintained the ghetto, and that white society condoned its existence.

Progress and Setbacks

In the years following the release of the Kerner Report, there was some progress in addressing racial inequality. However, this progress slowed and eventually reversed, leading to a resurgence of racial and ethnic discrimination.

Current State of Racial Inequality

  • Segregation is increasing in cities and schools, limiting opportunities for African-American children to receive a quality education and escape poverty.
  • Home ownership rates among black Americans have declined, reversing gains made after the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968.
  • In 2016, the number of people living in deep poverty was 16 percentage points higher than in 1975, and the number of U.S. children living in poverty has climbed to 21%.
  • Black unemployment remains higher than white unemployment, and the incarceration rate of black people has tripled since 1968.
  • The wealth gap between white and black families has widened, with the median white family having 10 times the wealth of the median black family.

Government Response

The Johnson administration largely ignored the recommendations of the Kerner Report, which called for massive investments in employment, education, and housing. The report was seen as politically toxic, and Congress was unwilling to approve the necessary funding.

Renewed Calls for Action

Fifty years after the release of the Kerner Report, a new study by the Milton Eisenhower Foundation has concluded that the conditions that led to the riots in the 1960s are still present today. The study calls for a renewed investment in addressing racial inequality and opening up a conversation about race, poverty, and inequality.

The Legacy of the Kerner Report

The Kerner Report remains a seminal document in the history of the civil rights movement. It exposed the deep-seated racism that plagued American society and called for bold action to address it. While progress has been made in some areas, much work remains to be done to achieve true racial equality in the United States.

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Social Justice

Ending Homelessness in America: The 100,000 Homes Campaign

by Kim
written by Kim

Inside the Plan to Get 100,000 Homeless Americans Off the Streets

The Homelessness Epidemic

Homelessness has been a persistent problem in America for decades. In the 1980s, an economic recession, the elimination of many single-room occupancy buildings, and the closure of some mental institutions led to a surge in homelessness. Homeless shelters became widespread, but they were often overcrowded and unsanitary, and they did little to address the underlying causes of homelessness.

Housing First

In the 1990s, a new approach to homelessness emerged: Housing First. This approach recognizes that people need stable housing in order to address their other problems, such as addiction and mental illness. Housing First programs provide homeless people with permanent supportive housing, along with access to social services and other support.

The 100,000 Homes Campaign

The 100,000 Homes Campaign is a coalition of community organizations across the country that aims to permanently house most of the country’s chronically homeless by 2014. Since 2010, the campaign has placed more than 12,000 people in permanent housing.

The Benefits of Permanent Housing

Providing permanent housing for homeless people is not only the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do. Studies have shown that permanent housing is cheaper than many of the alternatives, such as shelter stays and emergency room visits. It also helps to prevent homelessness from recurring.

The Challenges of Ending Homelessness

Ending homelessness is a complex challenge, but it is one that we can overcome. The 100,000 Homes Campaign is making a real difference in the lives of homeless people across the country. With continued support, we can end homelessness for good.

How You Can Help

There are many ways that you can help to end homelessness. You can volunteer your time at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. You can donate money to organizations that are working to end homelessness. You can also speak out against the policies that contribute to homelessness, such as poverty and discrimination.

Together, we can end homelessness in America.

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